Meniscal Ramp Lesions Research Articles

Clinical diagnostic study of Ramp lesion of medial meniscus based on knee MRI at 90° flexed position

To evaluate the clinical diagnostic value of knee MRI at 90° flexed position for Ramp lesions of medial meniscus. A total of 228 patients with knee pain as the main complaint who were admitted between September 2021 and September 2023 was selected as the research subjects, of which 51 patients met the selection criteria and were enrolled in the study. There were 31 males and 20 females with an average age of 38.6 years (range, 15-67 years). Body mass index was 17.2-28.7 kg/m 2 (mean, 23.9 kg/m 2). There were 25 cases of left knee and 36 cases of right knee. The time from injury to admission was 0.1-14.3 weeks (mean, 2.1 weeks). Preoperative knee MRI at fully extended position (knee extension position) and 90° flexed position (knee flexion position) were performed to determine the presence of irregular signs at the posterior edge of the medial meniscus, and PHMM fluid high signal [i.e. complete fluid filling between the posterior horn of the medial meniscus (PHMM) and the capsule margin]. Findings obtained under arthroscopy served as the "gold standard" to analyze the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of MRI at knee extension and flexion positions for the two specific signs of Ramp lesion. Twenty-one patients (41.2%) were diagnosed with Ramp lesions by using arthroscopy, including 1 case of Thaunat type Ⅰ, 2 cases of type Ⅱ, 6 cases of type Ⅲ, 7 cases of type Ⅳ, and 5 cases of type Ⅴ. The positive rates of irregular signs at the posterior edge of the medial meniscus on MRI at knee extension and flexion positions were significantly different from the diagnosis of Ramp injury under arthroscopy ( P<0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, and NPV of MRI in the diagnosis of irregular signs were 76.1%, 60.0%, 66.7%, 57.1%, and 78.3% respectively at knee extension position, and 85.7%, 73.3%, 78.4%, 69.2%, and 88.0% respectively at knee flexion position. The positive rates of PHMM fluid high signal on MRI at knee extension and flexion positions were significantly different from the diagnosis of Ramp injury under arthroscopy ( P<0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, and NPV of MRI in diagnosing PHMM fluid high signal were 38.1%, 100%, 74.5%, 100%, and 69.8% respectively at knee extension position, and 85.7%, 100%, 94.1%, 100%, and 90.9% respectively at knee flexion position. Knee MRI at 90° flexed position improves the diagnostic performance of the detection of medial meniscal Ramp lesions compared with MRI at fully extended position.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the 120° Flexed-Knee Position for Detecting and Classifying Meniscal Ramp Lesion.

Detection of meniscal ramp lesions concomitant with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury using conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has low sensitivity, and these lesions are currently difficult to diagnose preoperatively. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of MRI in detecting the presence of meniscal ramp lesions in the 120° flexed-knee position compared with that in the near-extended-knee position. It was hypothesized that the diagnostic performance of MRI in the 120° flexed-knee position would be better than that in the extended-knee position. Cohort study (Diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. This retrospective study of prospectively collected data between February 2019 and January 2024 included 154 consecutive patients undergoing ACL reconstruction. All patients underwent 3-T MRI examination in the near extended- and 120° flexed-knee positions preoperatively. The presence and Thaunat classification of ramp lesions were separately detected on each MRI scan and confirmed via arthroscopy during ACL reconstruction. Diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and conditional relative odds ratios for detecting ramp lesions and the classification accuracy were compared between 2 MRI modalities. The accuracies of these MRI scans in acute and chronic cases were also evaluated. This study included 154 patients (79 male and 75 female; mean age, 29.0 ± 14.2 years). A total of 62 ramp lesions (40.3%) were observed on arthroscopy. The sensitivity and specificity of MRI in near extension were 69.4% and 77.2%, respectively, and those in flexion were 91.9% and 94.6%, respectively, with significant superiority in MRI at knee flexion (P = .003 and P < .001, respectively). The conditional relative odds ratio between the MRI examinations at these 2 positions was 10.3 (95% CI, 4.82-21.8). The classification accuracy of MRI in flexion was significantly higher than that of MRI in near extension (accuracy, 49 vs 11; P < .001). The diagnostic accuracy of MRI in the 120° flexed-knee position was significantly higher than that in the near-extended-knee position in the acute cases (P < .05); however, no significant differences were observed in the chronic cases. The diagnostic accuracy of MRI in the 120° flexed-knee position for detecting and classifying meniscal ramp lesions was superior to that of MRI in the near-extended-knee position.

Survivorship and Outcomes of Meniscal Ramp Lesions Repaired Through a Posteromedial Portal During Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Outcome Study With a Minimum 10-Year Follow-up

Background: Several studies have demonstrated suture repair of ramp lesions of the medial meniscus via a posteromedial approach was associated with a significantly lower rate of secondary meniscectomy. However, these studies are not long-term and highlight the need for extended follow-up research to better understand the outcomes over a more extended period. Purpose: To evaluate the long-term results and reoperation rate for the failure of arthroscopic all-inside suture repair of ramp lesions of the medial meniscus via a posteromedial approach during anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: All patients who underwent all-inside suture repair of the posterior segment of the medial meniscus (ramp lesion) via a posteromedial approach during ACL reconstruction at a minimum follow-up of 10 years were included in the study. Side-to-side anterior laxity was assessed preoperatively and postoperatively. Pre- and postoperative functional assessment was based on the subjective International Knee Documentation Committee score for activities of daily living and the Tegner activity scale for sporting ability. Reinterventions for meniscal repair failure and other complications were also recorded at the last follow-up. Results: A total of 81 patients met the inclusion criteria for this study. Two patients had an ACL graft rupture with a new ramp lesion and were excluded from the analysis. Additionally, 15 patients were lost to follow-up, leaving a total of 64 patients in the final analysis. The mean follow-up was 124.8 months (range, 122.4-128.4 months). Mean side-to-side difference in anterior laxity significantly improved from 7.4 ± 1.5 mm (range, 5-12 mm) to 0.4 ± 1.3 mm (range, –3 to 4 mm) (P = .01). The mean subjective International Knee Documentation Committee score increased from 64.3 ± 13.4 (range, 34-92) before the operation to 91.1 ± 10.1 (range, 49-100) at the last follow-up (P = .001). The Tegner activity scale score at the last follow-up (6.3 ± 1.6) was lower than that before the trauma (7.1 ± 1.6) (P = .02). Fourteen patients (21.9%) had a failed meniscal repair and were reoperated. The mean time from initial repair to reoperation was 64.5 months (range, 13-126 months), and the median was 60.6 months. The multivariate analysis, including parameters such as lateral tenodesis (hazard ratio [HR], 1.62; P = .50), preoperative Tegner score (HR, 1.66; P = .41), preoperative laxity (HR, 1.75; P = .35), age at surgery (HR, 1.02; P = .97), and number of sutures (HR, 2.38; P = .19), did not reveal any factors associated with suture failure. Conclusion: The results show that arthroscopic repair of ramp lesions of the medial meniscus during ACL reconstruction using a posteromedial approach has a high failure rate at the 10-year follow-up, with half of these suture failures occurring within 5 years after the initial repair.

A Case Report of a Rare Presentation of Semimembranosus Tibial Plateau Avulsion: The Bony Ramp Lesion

Background: Tibial plateau posteromedial rim avulsions by semimembranosus tendon are a rare entity that have been reported in a few studies so far with controversial mechanisms. They are reported to accompany anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or meniscal injuries. Their main fracture planes are usually placed in the coronal plane. Case Report: The patient was a 52-year-old man with a hyperextension-valgus tibial plateau fracture. The imaging studies revealed a compression fracture of the lateral and an avulsion fracture of the posteromedial plateau. However, no soft-tissue injuries were detected. The fragment was avulsed in the axial plane and covered by the medial meniscal posterior horn, creating the pattern of a longitudinal tear in the meniscal ramp lesion, but actually without any soft-tissue injuries. It was fixated using the tension band wiring technique with two Kirschner wires (K-wires) and one cancellous screw. Radiological and functional outcomes were excellent at 12-month follow-up. Conclusion: This fracture pattern merits special attention due to its unusual presentation, causing the meniscal posterior horn to separate from the articular surface. “Bony ramp lesion” best describes the simultaneous separation of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus (PHMM) and its underlying bony fragment without the meniscal tear that takes place in an actual medial meniscal ramp lesion.

Evaluation of the reliability and accuracy of MRI for the diagnosis of meniscal ramp lesions.

Meniscal ramp lesions are a special type of meniscal injury that affects the periphery of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus and/or its meniscocapsular attachments, strongly associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. Due to their location, these lesions can be missed arthroscopically so it is essential to diagnose them on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To evaluate the accuracy of MRI in detecting meniscal ramp lesions in patients with ACL tears using arthroscopy as the reference standard. Two musculoskeletal radiologists, blinded to the surgical findings, retrospectively and independently evaluated 106 knee MRI scans for the presence of meniscal ramp lesions in non-consecutive patients who underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction between January 2019 and July 2022 by a single surgeon at one institution. Having arthroscopy as reference, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity as well as the positive and negative predictive values (PPV/NPV) of the MRI scans were calculated. Cohen's kappa coefficient was used to test inter-observer reliability. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. In the study group of 106 patients (72 men, 34 women; mean age = 33.84 ±13.12 years), 76 had an arthroscopy-confirmed meniscal ramp lesion, while 30 did not. The sensitivity and specificity of MRI for the detection of meniscal ramp lesion were 88% and 87%, respectively. The PPV and NPV were 94% and 74%, respectively. Inter-rater reliability was excellent (k = 0915). This study demonstrates that MRI can accurately detect meniscal ramp lesions.

Meniscal ramp lesion: Is a routine repair necessary?

Meniscal ramp lesion: Is a routine repair necessary?

The Incidence of Injuries to Ramp Semimembranosus Complex Lesions After ACL Injury: An MRI Study

Background: Medial meniscal ramp lesions have recently been an area of interest because of their recognized prevalence in association with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures. Anatomically, the medial meniscal ramp is composed of the meniscocapsular ligament in continuity with the semimembranosus muscle and the meniscotibial ligament. Diagnosis of ramp semimembranosus complex (RSC) injuries remains challenging, and their prevalence is likely to be underestimated in comparison with ramp lesions. Purpose: To determine the prevalence of RSC lesions after a complete ACL rupture. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A retrospective database analysis was performed. The cohort consisted of the first 100 patients with complete ACL rupture confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) who underwent knee arthroscopy for ACL reconstruction in 2019. The semimembranosus lesions were identified using MRI by 2 independent radiologists specializing in musculoskeletal imaging. The ramp lesions were initially diagnosed using MRI and then confirmed during arthroscopy by an experienced knee surgeon. The magnitude of rotatory instability was recorded using the pivot-shift test. A multivariate analysis was used to determine the lesions associated with the semimembranosus complex. Results: Of 100 patients, 53 showed lesions of the RSC; among them, 30 ramp lesions were confirmed after arthroscopic evaluation, and 40 semimembranosus lesions (23 without ramp lesion and 17 with ramp lesion) were found using MRI. A positive pivot shift was present in 57% of patients with combined RSC injury ( P = .04) compared with 36% in patients without an RSC lesion. Conclusion: Lesions of the RSC were found in more than half of ACL ruptures in this retrospective cohort. Rotational instability could be associated with combined ACL and RSC injury.

Paper 12: Risk Factors and Failure Rates for Ramp Repair with ACL Reconstruction: An Analysis of 1037 Patients with a Mean Follow-up of 72 Months from the SANTI Study Group

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to determine the failure rate (defined by secondary meniscectomy) of ramp repairs performed at the time of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). The secondary objective was to investigate the association of patient and surgical characteristics with the risk of failure. Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was performed. All patients who underwent repair of a meniscal ramp lesion through a posteromedial portal at the time of primary ACLR, performed between January 2013 and December 2020, were considered for study eligibility. At the end of the study period, secondary meniscectomy rates were determined. Kaplan Meier analyses were used to evaluate repair survivorship. Risk factors associated with meniscal repair failure were analyzed using a logistic regression model. Results: 1037 patients were deemed eligible and included in the final analysis. The overall mean follow-up was 72.4 ± 27.1 months. The overall rate of secondary medial meniscectomy was 7.7%. Age, sex, Tegner score, and the duration of time between the injury and surgery were not found to be significant risk factors for secondary meniscectomy. The only significant risk factor for failure of ramp repair was the use of an isolated ACLR technique when compared to a combined ACLR + lateral extra-articular procedure (LEAP). The rate of secondary medial meniscectomy was 12.9% in the isolated ACLR group, compared to 4.8% in the combined ACLR + LEAP group (P&lt; 0.0001). The odds of having a secondary medial meniscectomy were 62% lower for patients with combined ACLR + LEAP. Conclusions: At a mean follow-up of 72.4 months after ACLR + ramp repair, the failure rate was 7.7%. The failure rate was 2 times lower when a LEAP was performed in conjunction with ACLR. The only significant risk factor identified for failure of a ramp lesion was the use of an isolated ACLR instead of a combined ACLR + LEAP.

Biomechanical impact of meniscal ramp lesions on knee joint contact characteristics in ACL deficient knees: a cadaveric analysis.

To evaluate the changes in contact characteristics of the tibiofemoral joint resulting from a meniscal ramp lesion in the medial meniscus. Twelve cadaveric knees (six matched pairs) were subjected to a 600N axial load using a custom testing jig, which allowed for knee positioning at 0°, 45°, and 90° of flexion without other constraints. The knees were randomly assigned to either a ramp lesion group (n = 6) or a posterior root lesion group (n = 6). Four testing conditions were examined: (1) intact, (2) isolated ramp lesion, (3) isolated posterior root tear of the medial meniscus, and (4) combined ramp lesion and posterior root tear of the medial meniscus. Contact characteristics were evaluated using a flexible pressure sensor, the I-Scan System. Peak contact pressure in isolated ramp lesions (4.15 ± 0.98MPa, P = 0.206) showed non-significant increases compared to the intact condition (3.86 ± 1.32MPa). Peak contact pressure in isolated posterior root tears (4.58 ± 1.70MPa, P = 0.040) and, combined ramp and posterior root lesions (4.67 ± 1.47MPa, P = 0.003) were significantly higher than that in the intact condition. The knee flexion position significantly affected the medial tibiofemoral joint's contact area, contact pressure, and peak contact pressure (P < 0.001 for all). Isolated ramp lesions did not significantly impact force transmission, contact area, or contact pressure. In contrast, isolated root lesions and combined ramp and posterior root tears of the medial meniscus significantly intensified the changes in contact characteristics in the medial tibiofemoral joint compared to the intact condition. Level III.

Evaluating the Diagnostic Performance of MRI for Identification of Meniscal Ramp Lesions in ACL-Deficient Knees: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Despite vigorous efforts to delineate the efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis of meniscal ramp lesions, there is still a great deal of uncertainty regarding its diagnostic performance. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the diagnostic performance of MRI for detecting ramp lesions in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient knees. We performed a systematic search of MEDLINE via PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase and included all articles, published before October 20, 2022, comparing the accuracy of MRI with that of arthroscopy as the gold standard for diagnosis of ramp lesions. We performed statistical analysis using Stata and Meta-DiSc software. Quality assessment of the included studies was performed using the QUADAS-2 (Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2) tool. This meta-analysis evaluated 21 diagnostic performance comparisons from 19 original research articles (2,149 patients). The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve for diagnosing a ramp lesion were 0.70 (95% confidence interval [Cl], 0.66 to 0.73), 0.88 (95% Cl, 0.86 to 0.89), 6.49 (95% Cl, 4.12 to 10.24), 0.36 (95% Cl, 0.28 to 0.46), 24.33 (95% Cl, 12.81 to 46.19), and 0.88, respectively. Meta-regression using different variables yielded the same results. MRI exhibited a DOR of 24.33 and moderate sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for diagnosing ramp lesions in ACL-deficient knees. However, arthroscopy using a standard anterolateral portal with intercondylar viewing is recommended to confirm a diagnosis of a ramp lesion. Diagnostic Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)-injured Knees with Meniscal Ramp Lesions Manifest Greater Anteroposterior and Rotatory Instability Compared with Isolated ACL-injured Knees

To investigate the effects of ramp lesion (RL) and its repair on knee instability in patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury by quantitatively assessing anteroposterior and rotational knee instability before and after ACL reconstruction. All primary double-bundle ACL reconstruction using hamstring autografts between 2016 and 2021 were evaluated retrospectively. Patients with RLs without other meniscal injuries were included in Group R, whereas those with isolated ACL injuries constituted Group C. RL was repaired using all-inside devices in all patients in Group R. Knee instability, including the amount of anterior tibial translation (ATT), and the acceleration and external rotational angular velocity of the knee joint (ERAV) during the pivot-shift test were assessed at the time of surgery. The pivot-shift test grade was recorded. A total of 73 patients were included in this study. Preoperatively, Group R (n=23) had significantly greater pivot-shift grades (P=.039), ATT (6.0 mm: Group R; 4.5 mm: Group C, P<.001), acceleration (6.8; 2.8, P=.037), and ERAV (3.9; 2.8, P=.001) than Group C (n=50). Intraoperatively, ATT (-1.0 mm; -1.0 mm, P<.001), acceleration (1.2; 1.1, P<.001), and ERAV (1.4; 1.2, P<.001) were significantly decreased compared with the preoperative values in both groups. No significant differences in these values were observed between Groups R and C. ACL-injured knees accompanied by RLs exhibited significantly greater anteroposterior and rotatory instability than knees with isolated ACL injuries; increased knee instability can be effectively addressed by performing RL repair in conjunction with ACL reconstruction. The quantitative assessments employed-specifically measuring ATT, acceleration and ERAV during the pivot-shift test-have allowed us to delineate these aspects of knee instability with greater precision. Level Ⅲ, retrospective comparative study.

Efficacy of all-inside devices in reducing gap and step-off in knee extension for ramp lesion repair: A cadaveric study.

The aim of this study is to assess the dynamics of the tear site of meniscal ramp lesions, particularly considering knee flexion angles, and validate anchor fixation using an all-inside device. Eight Thiel-embalmed paired cadaveric knees with their whole bodies were used in this study. The ramp lesions were created arthroscopically, and ramp lesion dynamics were evaluated by gradually extending the knee from 90° of knee flexion. Changes in the gap and step-off (0: no step-off; 1: cross-sectional overlap exists; and 2: tibial articular surface exposed) were evaluated at 90°, 60°, 30°, and 10° of knee flexion. After dynamic evaluation, all-inside repairs of the ramp lesions using all-inside devices were conducted. Dissection was performed to confirm the position of anchor fixation. As the knee was extended, the gap significantly decreased at all knee flexion angles. Similarly, the step-off grade decreased as the knee was extended, and the step-off completely disappeared in all cases when the knee was extended from 30° to 10°. The average knee flexion angle at which the gap and step-off completely disappeared was 22.5°. After suturing the ramp lesion, arthroscopic evaluation showed that the gap had disappeared and the step-off had been repaired in all cases. Anchor fixation locations were not found within the joint but were fixed to the semimembranosus tendon or its surrounding articular capsule. Overall, 31% (5/16) anchors were fixed to the attachment site of the semimembranosus tendon, whereas the remaining were fixed to the articular capsule, located peripherally to the semimembranosus tendon. Suturing with an all-inside device for ramp lesions is a good option, and the repair in knee extension was found to be reasonable, considering the dynamics of ramp lesions in this study. Level IV.

Evaluating the Reliability of YouTube as a Source of Information for Meniscal Ramp Lesions.

Videos uploaded to YouTube do not go through a review process, and therefore, videos related to medial meniscal ramp lesions may have little educational value. To assess the educational quality of YouTube videos regarding ramp lesions of the meniscus. Cross-sectional study. A standard search was performed on the YouTube website using the following terms: "ramp lesion" and "posterior meniscal detachment" and "ramp" and "meniscocapsular" and "meniscotibial detachment," and the top 100 videos based on the number of views were included for analysis. The video duration, publication data, and number of likes and views were retrieved, and the videos were categorized based on video source (health professionals, orthopaedic company, private user), the type of information (anatomy, biomechanics, clinical examination, overview, radiologic, surgical technique), and video content (education, patient support, patient experience/testimony).The content analysis of the information on the videos was evaluated with the use of the DISCERN instrument (score range, 16-80), the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria (score range, 0-4), and the Global Quality Score (GQS; score range, 1-5). A total of 74 videos were included. Of these videos, 70 (94.6%) were published by health professionals, while the remaining 4 (5.4%) were published by orthopaedic companies. Most of the videos were about surgical technique (n = 36; 48.6%) and all had an educational aim (n = 74; 100%). The mean length of the videos was 10.35 ± 17.65 minutes, and the mean online period was 18.64 ± 13.85 months. The mean DISCERN score, JAMA benchmark score, and GQS were 31.84 ± 17.14 (range, 16-72), 1.65 ± 0.87 (range, 1-4), and 2.04 ± 1.21 (range, 1-5), respectively. Videos that reported an overview about ramp lesions were the best in terms of quality for DISCERN and JAMA benchmark score, while biomechanics videos were the best according to GQS. The worst category of videos was about surgical technique, with all having lower scores. The educational content of YouTube regarding medial meniscal ramp lesions showed low quality and validity based on DISCERN score, JAMA benchmark score, and GQS.

Anchor-Based Meniscal Ramp Repair

Ramp lesions of the medial meniscus are underdiagnosed because of difficulty in visualizing via magnetic resonance imaging and during arthroscopy. They most often occur simultaneously with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury but may also be associated with posterior plateau contusions, steeper medial tibial plateau slope, and excess varus alignment. Upwards of 24% of ACL reconstructions have concomitant ramp lesions. Failure to repair the ramp lesion is associated with increased rotational laxity, tibial translocation, persistent pivot shift, and poorer outcomes after ACL reconstruction. The purpose of this article is to describe an all-suture anchor-based repair of a meniscal ramp lesion, which confers several advantages over traditional repair techniques.

Increased Intra-Articular Internal Tibial Rotation Is Associated With Unstable Medial Meniscus Ramp Lesions in Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Injured Athletes

To analyze internal tibial rotation through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries with and without an unstable medial meniscal ramp lesion (MMRL). Retrospective analysis of prospectively data was performed to include all consecutive patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction (ACLR) between January 2022 and June 2022. Two groups, ACLR+ unstable MMRL and ACLR without MMRL, were constituted. Propensity score matching analysis was used to limit selection bias. The angle between surgical epicondylar axes (SEAs) and the tangent line of the posterior tibial condyles (PTCs) was measured to analyze the rotational alignment between distal femur and proximal tibia. MMRLs were defined unstable if they were ≥1 cm, if the lesions extend beyond the lower pole of the femoral condyle, and/or if there was displacement into the medial compartment by anterior probing. Twenty-eight propensity-matched pairs were included. The ACLR+ unstable MMRL presented a significantly greater internal rotation of the tibia compared to ACLR without MMRL (P < .001). An internal tibial rotation was associated with unstable ramp lesions in ACL-injured patients (odds ratio [OR], 0.36; 95% CI, 0.25-0.41; P < .0001). If SEA-PTC was 0°, the sensitivity and specificity of the SEA-PTC angle to detect unstable MMRL were respectively 100% (95% CI, 85%-100%) and 18% (95% CI, 8%-36%). Otherwise, if SEA-PTC angle was -10°, the sensitivity and specificity of the SEA-PTC angle to detect unstable MMRL were respectively 43% (95% CI, 27%-61%) and 96% (95% CI, 81%-100%). Bone edema of the posterior medial tibial plateau was significantly associated with unstable ramp lesions (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.21-2.06; P= .029). Unstable MMRL concomitant to an ACL rupture was associated with an increased tibial internal rotation. Level III, retrospective comparative trial.

Concurrent Repair of Medial Meniscal Ramp Lesions and Lateral Meniscus Root Tears in Patients Undergoing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: The “New Terrible Triad”

Recent studies have suggested that up to 8% of patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears can present with a combined medial meniscal ramp lesion (MMRL) and lateral meniscus root tear (LMRT). MMRLs and LMRTs often are missed preoperatively and can increase the risk of ACL graft failure if left untreated. Given the potential synergistic biomechanical consequences and challenging repair techniques used for treatment, our group commonly refers to this presentation (MMRL-LMRT-ACL) as the “new terrible triad” of ACL pathology. This Technical Note aims to describe a systematic approach for arthroscopic assessment and our preferred inside-out and transtibial pull-out repair techniques to efficiently diagnose and treat a combined MMRL and LMRT at the time of ACL reconstruction surgery.

Failure rate, return-to-sports and magnetic resonance imaging after meniscal repair: 119 patients with 7 years mean follow up.

One of the most important factors to consider in relation to meniscal repair is the high failure rate reported in the existing literature. To evaluate failure rates, return to sports (RTS) rate, clinical outcomes and magnetic resonance image (MRI) evaluation after meniscus suture repair for longitudinal tears at a minimum 2-year-follow-up. We conducted a retrospective review of meniscal repairs between January 2004 and December 2018. All patients treated for longitudinal tears associated or not with an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R) were included. Meniscal ramp lesions, radial and root tears, associated with multiligament injuries, tibial fracture and meniscal allograft transplants were excluded. Surgical details and failure rate, defined as symptomatic patients who underwent a revision surgery, were analyzed. As isolated bucket handle tears (BHTs) were usually associated with higher failure rates, we compared BHTs and not BHTs associated or not with an ACL-R. Since 2014, the inside-out technique using cannulas and suture needles with 2-0 Tycron began to predominate. In addition, the number of stitches per repair was increased. In view of differences in surgical technique, we compared two different cohorts: before and after 2014. We recorded the RTS according to the level achieved and the time to RTS. Lysholm and IKDC scores were recorded. Patients were studied with x-rays and MRI as standard postoperative control. One hundred and nineteen patients were included with a mean follow up of 7 years (SD: 4.08). Overall failure rate was 20.3% at a mean 20.1 mo. No statistically significant differences were found when comparing failure for medial and lateral meniscal repair (22.7% and 15.3%, P = 0.36), BHTs and not BHTs (26% and 17.6%, P = 0.27), isolated or associated with an ACL-R (22.9% and 18%, P = 0.47), or when comparing only BHTs associated with an ACL-R (23% and 27.7%, P = 0.9) or not. When comparing cohorts before and after 2014, we found a significant decrease in the overall failure rate from 26% to 11% (P < 0.03). Isolated lesions presented a decrease from 28% to 6.6% (P = 0.02), BHTs from 34% to 8% (P = 0.09) and those associated with an ACL-R from 25% to 10% (P = 0.09). Mean RTS time was 6.5 mo in isolated lesions and 8.64 mo when associated with an ACL-R. Overall, 56% of patients returned to the same sport activity level. Mean pre and postoperative Lysholm scores were 64 and 85 (P = 0.02), and IKDC 58 and 70 (P = 0.03). Out of 84 asymptomatic patients evaluated with MRI, 39% were classified as "not healed" and 61% as "healed". Even though the overall failure rate of our series was 20.3%, we found a statistically significant decrease from 26% to 11%, not only for isolated lesions, but also for BHT's and those associated with an ACL-R when comparing our series in two different cohorts, most probably due to improvements in surgical technique.

Paper 29: Untreated Type 4 Ramp Injuries at Index Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery Result in Higher Rates of Revision ACL-R within the First 2 Years

Objectives: Ramp lesions are commonly associated with ACL tears and recent studies have identified these lesions in 17-42% of patients undergoing treatment with ACL reconstruction. In addition to its association with ACL tears, there is increasing recognition that ramp lesions lead to significant biomechanical changes in the knee. Our study seeks to investigate whether patients with type 4 ramp lesions at the time of initial ACL reconstruction have higher rates of reoperation, specifically revision ACL-R, compared to those that undergo ACL-R without a ramp lesion. Methods: Retrospective chart review was conducted on all patients surgically treated with ACL reconstruction at level I academic center from January 2015 to December 2019. Type 4 ramp lesions were diagnosed on preoperative MRIs by two MSK-trained radiologists blinded to clinical information. Demographic, associated injuries, intra-operative, clinical data, and re-operations were extracted from our ACL-R database. Statistical analysis using Students T-test and chi x2 for comparing cohorts. Cox Regression with covariates for re-operation surgery was used. Risk factors evaluated for revision surgery included patient age, sex, BMI, treatment of ramp, timing to surgery. Inter-reliability coefficient correlation was used for MRI reliability. Results: A total of 255 patients ACL-R were identified that met inclusion. There were 170 patients with ACL-R without a ramp present and 85 patients with ACL-R + type 4 ramp lesion. Revision ACL-R occurred in 10.5% in ramp group compared to 2.4% without ramp (P&lt;0.005). Around 75% of the revision ACL-R for the ramp group occurred within the first 2 and half years after surgery. Risk factor associated with revision ACL-R included untreated ramp (HR 10.46 (CI: 2.13-109.70) p=0.01). Conclusions: Meniscal ramp lesions with ACL-R result in higher revision ACL-R when compared to no ramp ACL-R. Most significantly untreated type 4 ramp lesions with concomitant ACL-R were associated with increased risk of ACL-R revision surgery . Standard portals are not sufficient in diagnosing and assessing stability of ramp lesions intra-operatively. [Table: see text]

Poster 237: Menisco-Tibial Ligament Complex Anatomy and Biomechanics – Implications for Meniscus Repairs, Ramp Lesions and Transplants

Poster 237: Menisco-Tibial Ligament Complex Anatomy and Biomechanics – Implications for Meniscus Repairs, Ramp Lesions and Transplants

Poster 306: Examining Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Medial Meniscal Ramp Lesions in Patients Surgically Treated for Acute Grade III Combined Posterolateral Corner Knee Injuries

Objectives: While medial meniscocapsular tears ( ramp lesions) are commonly associated with isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, there are limited descriptions of these meniscal injuries in multi-ligament knee injuries (MLKIs). The purposes of this study were: (1) To retrospectively evaluate preoperative MRIs for the presence of ramp lesions in patients surgically treated for acute grade III combined posterolateral corner knee injuries and (2) To determine if a preoperative posteromedial tibia plateau (PMTP) bone bruise is associated with the presence of preoperative ramp lesions on MRI in these same patients. Methods: Data on consecutive patients at a Level I trauma center with MLKIs between 2001 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Only patients with acute grade III combined PLC injuries who received a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan within 30 days of injury were assessed. Two musculoskeletal radiologists retrospectively reviewed each patient’s preoperative MRI for evidence of ramp lesions and bone bruises (Figure 1). Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to calculate reliability among the reviewers. Multivariate analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between bone bruising patterns and the presence of a ramp lesion on MRI. Results: Sixty-eight patients (79.4% male; mean age, 36.2 ± 13.7 years) with an acute grade III combined PLC injury were included in the study (Table 1). On MRI, the ICC for detection of ramp lesions and PMTP bone bruising were 0.921 and 0.938, respectively. Medial meniscal ramp lesions were diagnosed in 18/68 (26.5%). 11/18 (61.1%) patients with ramp lesions also showed evidence of PMTP bruising, while 13/50 (26.0%) patients without ramp lesions had PMTP bruising (P=0.008) (Table 2). When controlling for age and sex, PTMP bruising was significantly associated with the presence of a ramp lesion in combined PLC injuries (OR, 4.62; P=0.012) (Table 3). Conclusions: Preoperative medial meniscal ramp lesions were diagnosed on MRI in 26.5% of patients with acute grade III combined PLC injuries. In addition, PMTP bone bruising was significantly associated with the presence of a ramp lesion in patients with a grade III combined PLC injury. These findings demonstrate the need to assess for potential ramp lesions at the time of multi-ligament reconstruction. [Table: see text][Table: see text][Table: see text]